Clearing the Air: Carbon & Health

DESCRIPTION

The key to convincing the public and politicians that we need to move forward more rapidly with climate solutions may in fact not come from climate concerns and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions at all.

The most compelling arguments may arise from what are referred to as the "co-benefits" of reducing fossil fuel emissions. These include reduced heart and lung diseases, lower asthma rates, fewer missed work and school days and fewer premature fatalities - all of which disproportionately harm vulnerable communities. The harms to us and to our families are in the here and now and thus for most people, demand more immediate attention.

On June 6th, we'll explore the connections between health, climate change and fossil fuel burning and provide you with more tools to speak to the public, your employers, customers, friends, families... and especially to your elected officials.

Guest Speakers

Jonathan Buonocore, Sc.D. of the Harvard Center for Health & the Global Environment at the T.H. Chan School of Public HealthJonathan’s research topics range from improving understanding of health and environmental risks pipelines, underground gas storage, and other midstream oil and gas infrastructure, to understanding health “co-benefits” of the U.S. EPA’s Clean Power Plan and different energy efficiency and renewable energy projects, to helping to understand the health implications of fires in Indonesia. Jonathan received his doctoral degree from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health in Environmental Science and Risk Management in November 2013.

In April of this year, Jonathan completed a study on the health co-benefits of carbon pricing in Massachusetts, which quantifies health savings of nearly $3 billion over the course of a bill now before the State Senate. Jonathan has also just won a grant to explore the use of drones to assess air quality near fossil infrastructure sites like pipelines, compressor stations, refineries, etc.

Dr. Brita Lundberg, Mass. Medical Society, Environmental and Occupational Health Commission & Green NewtonBrita is an infectious disease specialist and patient advocate who is actively working to apply health and toxicology research to transparently assess the risks associated with fossil fuel infrastructure. She is currently engaged in an effort to advocate for Comprehensive Health Impact Assessments - not solely an Environmental Impact Assessment – for the siting and expansion of natural gas infrastructure, particularly when it is situated close to densely populated communities such as West Roxbury and Weymouth.